Vending machine



Oct. 23, 1928. I 1,688,402

1.. D. SMITH VENDING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 23, 928.

L. D. SMITH VENDING MACHINE Filjed April 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet ill 1: jitltiiiiti it.

Get. 23; 1928.

L. D. SMITH VENDING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet Patented oct. 23, 1928., j

' UNITED STATES 1,688,402 ,PATENTFOFFICE.

LANDON '1). SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL VENDING SERV- ICE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed April 28, 1924- Serial No. 709,865.

This invention relates to vending machines and has among other objects to provide a new and improved vending machine which shall be small and compact, which can be easily serviced, which cannot be operated with the ordinary slug and which Wlll return the coin to the purchaser if the machine is empty or if the coin actuatedmechanlsm is not operating properly. The invent on has other objects which are more particularly pointed out in the accompanylng description.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the device shown In Fig. 1 opened to fill with the material tobe vended.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the vending machine open with the plate to which the coin actuated mechanism is attached removed.

Fig. 4 is a Vertical sectional view through the vending machine taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 7 showing the coin actuating mechanism when the coin is first inserted showing the coin mechanism as seen from the rear or inside of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the coin actuated mechanism moved through part of its stroke.

Fig. 7 is a sectlonal View taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on hne 101O of Fig. 11.

- Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on hne 1111 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on llne 12-12 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is a view showing the signal element which indicates when the machine requires refilling. 1

Fig. 14 is a view of the double acting spring.

Fig. 15 is a View of the spring shown in Fig. 14 as viewed on line 1515 of Fig. 14.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to the drawings;

I have shown a device having a case 1 provided with a hinge cover 2. The material to be vended is contained in the case 1 and the coin mechanism is connected with the cover 2. The cover is connected with the case so that it can be easily separated therefrom. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 one arrangement for this purpose is illustrated which consists in bending the metal of the case and the cover to form loops 3 and 4, the loops 3, for example, being on thecase and the loops 4 being on the cover, these loops being brought in alignment, when it is desired to assemble the parts and a rod 5 run through them to bind the parts together. This rod is provided with a bent end 6 which when the parts are assembled is bent under the top 0 the case las shown in Fig. 2. When it is desired to disconnect the cover from the case the bent end 6 is moved out from under the top of the case and the rod pulled out thus removing it from the loops 3 and 4. The cover must be open to do this. When it is desirable to connect the cover and the case it is only necessary to bring the loops in alignment and then push the pin in place. This permits the easy and quick removal of the coin mechanism in the event anything is the matter with it and the attachment of a new coin mechanism. The service man can carry several of these mechanisms around with him so that in the event anything is the matter with any of the devices he is servicing he can quickly and easily change the mechanism so as to keep the devices in service. The cover 2 is provided at the side and top with a flange 7 which is preferably integral with the cover and which covers the joint preventing entrance from the side and the top by means of sharp instruments of any kind. The case is provided with a receptacle 8 for the material to be vended. This receptacle has a back and sides but is open at the front, the front beingprovided with the flanges 9 which hold the material from falling out but which expose it to view. The receptacle 8 when gum is used in the machine acts as a gum chute to deliver the gum to the delivery tray 10. This delivery tray is at the lower end of the receptacle 8 and is pivotally mounted in the case by means of the pivots 11. This tray (see Fig. 8) is provided with an upstanding back portion 12 which before the tray is moved is back of the materialto be discharged and when tha tray is moved engages j nected to a fixed part 23 (see Fig. 3).

this material to insure its discharge. The receptacle 8 is also pivoted to the-case by the same pivots 11 that connect the tray thereto so that the receptacle can be moved out at the top to clear the top of thecase when the cover is opened so that the material may be inserted at the upper end thereof thus making it easy to service the machine. The tray 10 has connected therewith a tooth part 13 which is engaged by the tooth segment 14 connected with the coin operated mechanism. When the cover is open these two tooth parts are disconnected as shown in Fig. 2. When the cover is closed they are connected together so that when the coin mechanism is operated the delivery tray will be moved to deliver material upon the .delivery shelf 15. The coin operated mechanism is located between the plates 16 and 17 which are fastened together by thefastening device 18. These plates are connected-with the cover 2. Projecting on the outside of the cover is the operating handpiece 19. Connected to this handpiece is a shaft 20 provided between its ends with an enlargement or disc 21. A coil spring 22 is connected with this enlargement atone end, the other end being con- This spring returns the parts to their normal posi' tion when the handpiece is released. The shaft 20 is provided with a non-circular end 24'which fitsinto a non-circular shaped opening in the coin arm 25 so that when the handpiece is moved the coin arm is also moved (see Fig. 5). This coin arm is provided with the projecting parts 26 and 27. The distance between the upper parts of these projections is accurately calibrated to receive a coin of the proper size such coin when dropped in between the arms stopping at this calibrating point as shown, for example, in Fig. 5. The coin arm before the device is operated is in the position shown in Fig. 5. The cover is provided with a coin slot 28 into which the coin is dropped. If a slug of magnetic material is dropped into this slot it passes along the end of the magnet29 and is deflected by the magnet and-passes through the opening 30 and thence along the coin chute 31 (see Fig. 3)' attached to the cover and is returned to the customer by being deposited upon the tray shelf 15. If the device put into the slot is a non-metallic slug of fiber, paper, aluminum or the like, it passes by the magnet and strikes the weighted lever 32.

Such a slug being lighter than the proper coin will not move the lever but will roll along the upper edge thereof and pass as'shown in Fig. 6 and will then dro down to the coin arm 25. If it is smaller tlian the distance between the points 26 and 27 it will fall through and be deflected by the spring 33 and pass into the coin receptacle 34. If the coin is the proper size it will be stopped between the points 26 and 27 If the and piece 19 is rotated when there is no coin between the oints of the coin arm nothing happens. I however, the proper coin is between the projecting parts 26 and 27 of the coin arm as shown in dotted one position and Fig. 6 is another position. This pawl 36 is provided with an engaging part 37 which engages a rack in this instance formed by teeth 38 on the plate 17 when there is no coin on the coin lever 25 and locks the toothed segment 14 against movement. This pawl and rack form a locking feature to prevent a customer from getting more than one package of gum for each coin. When the coin engages this pawl 36 is moves it so as to disengage it from the teeth 38 (see Fig. 6) and'the coin and the pawl arm then come into contact with the tooth segment 14. This segment is then moved and as it is connected by its teeth with the tooth part 13 connected with the delivery tray the movement of this tooth part causes a movement of the delivery tray to discharge the material thereon which, for example, may be a single package of gum. The material then drops down onto the delivery shelf 15. The coin arm 25 when it starts to move up produces another action namely it causes the coin return lever 39 to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6. All coins inserted then runalong the top of this lever and are deflected through the coin opening 30 and returned to the customer. Referring particularly to Figure 6, it will be noted that whenthe lever 39- is in the position shown in Figure 6, the coin strikes the bent end 44 so that the coin in its next movement,

strikes the lever 32.so that its weight is at- .the left of the pivotal point, and lever 32 is not moved about this point, but the coin runs along the left hand end of it and passes into the opening 30 as shown in Figure 5, and then is returned to the customer. This coin return lever is pivoted and is provided with a projection 40 which engages'the longitudinally movable piece 41 which extends along the side of the casing and which at the bottom has a projection 42 engaged by.

the coin lever 25. When the coin lever is Inc) I moved it releases the longitudinally movable I and in the path of the coin inserted in the coin slot- 28 when the coin return lever is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6. This coin return lever stays in the position of Fig. 6 until the coin arm is returned to its initial position whereupon it moves the piece 41 back so as to move the arm 39 to the position shown in Fig. 5. Before the coin arm is moved the weighted pawl 46 engages the periphery of the segment 14 as shown in Fig. 5 so as to be held out of engagement with the weighted lever 32. When the coin arm is moved up and after it has moved the segment 14 a small amount the end of the weighted pawl drops down into the notch 47 and the other end thereof engages the projection 48 on the weighted lever 32 as shown in dotted lines in 6 and holds it a ainst movement so that during the process of delivering material this weighted lever 32 is held so that any additional coins inserted in the slot 38 will roll along the top thereof, pass through opening and be returned to the customer. In other words, a coin dropped into the slot 28, when the parts are in the position above described, strikes the projection 44 on the arm 39 and then drops on the top of the lever 32 (whichis then in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6). The coin strikes the lever 32 at such a distance from its unweighted end that it will not tilt it but will run along the top thereof and be discharged throughthe pening 30. As the segment 14 is moved farther by the handpiece carrying with it the coin lever 25, the coin is forced down between the calibrating points 26 and 27, and engages the shoulders 49 on the coin lever' and is forced over the ejecting spring and passes the end thereof, whereupon the free end of said ejecting spring which has been sprung out by the coin and which has its other end fastened to the plate 17 (see Figs. 5 and 6) springs back to a position where it will be on the other side of the coin during the return movement of said coin. When the handpiece is released the spring 21 returns the parts to their initial position. During this return movement the coin passes back on the other side of the ejecting spring 35, which spring removes the coin from the coin lever 25 and causes it to pass through the opening 50 and drop into the coin box 51 which has the front hinged part 52, which can only be opened when the casing is opened. The connection between the toothed segment 14 and the coin lever 25 is now broken. Some means is provided for locking the operating mechanism when all of the material has been discharged so as to prevent the coin arm 25 from completely returning to its initial position so that the coin return lever 39' will remain in a position to return all coins to the customer. I have shown one construction for this purpose, which consists of the following mechanism: A movable member tacle 8, preferably on the inside thereof (see Fig. 8) This member has a projecting part 55 which extends partway across the back of the receptacle, said receptacle being cut away for this purpose (see Figs. 8 and 9). This projecting part is engaged by the material in the receptacle and this material holds it against forward movement. The member 53 has an engaging tooth 56 (see Fig. 8), which is normally inoperative. A spring 59 is connected with the member 53 by means of the end 60 (see Fig. 4), being preferably connected with the projecting part 55 (see Fig.3). The other end 'of this spring is located between the projections 61 and 62 on the toothed portion 13 connected with the tray 10. When the tray is in its normal position with the material in the receptacle 8 resting thereon, the projection 62 engages the spring 59 and holds the member 53 so that the tooth 56 is out of engagement with the teeth of the toothed segment 14. When the tray is moved to its discharged position. the projection 61 engages the spring 59, as shown in Fig. 4, and the spring thenexerts a pressure on the member 53 to move it out so that the tooth 56 will engage the teeth of the toothed segment 14 and prevent the return of the parts to their initial position. If, now, the material such as gum has notall been discharged, the projection 55 on the member 53 will engage this material and prevent the spring 59 from moving the member 53 to engage the toothed segment 14. When, however, all the material is discharged, the projection 55 is freed, and when the tray is moved to its discharged position discharging the last piece-of material, the spring 59 moves the member 53 so as to cause the engaging tooth 56 to engage between the teethof the toothed segment 14 and prevent the parts from returning to their initial posit-ion. up out of engagement with the projection return lever 39 is held at its coin returning position, as shown in Fi 6. It will thus be seen that when all of the material is exhausted from the device, all coins that are.

This holds the coin lever 25 It will further be seen that the,

is pivoted at 54 to the side of the recep- I .42- on the movable piece41 so that the coin spring 59 has two actions, one to hold the member 53 back and the other to pushit out, the same spring having opposite actions and results, as above set out. Any of the following means is also provided for preventing the operating handpiece from being turned back until it completes its cycle of operation and the coin is discharged into the coin box. This is secured by providing a toothed part 63 associated with the handpiece and moved therewith, and which is engaged by a pawl 64 (see Fig. 3), which permits forward movement but prevents backward movement, thus requiring the handpiece to be moved through its complete stroke and until the pawl 64 is disengaged from the toothed part 63. lVhen the recep-, tacle 8 is moved out to be filled it may be held against falling over by means of the hook 65 thereon, which may be hooked over the projection 66 on the wall of the casing (see Figs. 3 and 4). A locking device is provided for locking the cover 2 in its closed position. As herein shown, we provide means for locking the cover at the top and the bottom. A locking member 67, Fig, 4, is attached to the cover and is provided with slots 68, 69 for the holding pieces 70 and 71. The casing is provided with the locking members 72 and 73 which are engaged by the locking parts at hooks 74 and 75 on the locking member 67. These hooks have inclined faces 76 and 77 and the locking parts 72 and 73 are rounded so that when the cover is shut the door will automatically lock by the inclined faces 76 and 77 engaging the inclined faces on the locking parts 7 2 and 73 so as tocause the locking member 67 to move longitudinally until the hooks 74 and 75 pass the locking members 72 and 7 3, whereupon the spring, 78, which has one end fastened to the member 67 and the other to the casing, moves the member 67 back to its locking position, as shown in Fig. 4. Some means is also provided for indicating when the material in thecasing is exhausted, or almost exhausted, that is, when the device is in a condition where it should be reserviced. As herein shown, I provide a pivoted lever 79 (see Fig. 3), which when the receptacle is full of material presents a part thereof in front of the opening 80 in the cover (see Fig. 1) which will make a certain showing, as for example white. llhen the material. is exhausted, or partially exhausted, this lever is automatically moved so as to show the fact that the device needs reservicing, as for example by indicating red through the opening 80. The lever 79 is moved by a member 81 (see Fig. 2) which projects through the plate 16 at the back of the cover and which engages the material in the receptacle 8 so as to hold the lever 79 'in the position where the red does not show.

As the material lowers in the receptacle to a oint where it "gets below the member 81,-

automatically moves away from the plate 16 and this moves the parts so as to show the red or other indications which'indicate that the box should be reserviced. A view of this lever 79 is shown in Fig. 13, the red indicating part being shown at 82 and the white indicating part being shown at 83. When the cover is closed the device automatically locks itself as hereinbefore dewhich permit the finger to be easily inserted at the end to remove large pieces of material such as gum. Locking piece 73, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 is attached to a projecting part 7 3. In the operation of the device, after the device is filled with the material and the cover closed a coin is placed in the slot 28, and if it is the proper coin it will pass down to the coin lever 25 and when the handpiece 19 is rotated the tray will be moved to discharge the proper amount of material and then when the handpiece is released the parts will be returned to their normal position. If a magnetic slug is used it willbe pulled over by the magnet 29 and as it moves along this magnet the magnetic attraction will decrease and as it approaches the neutral point of the magnet, the weight will cause it to be disconnected therefrom, and it will pass through the opening and no material will be discharged. If a coin is inserted after the handpiece 19.is moved a part of the distance such coin will be returned by the coin return lever 39 and the lever 32. I If a light slug such as a slug of fiber is inserted it will also be returned by the lever 32. If coins are inserted after all of the material is discharged such coins will be returned to the customer. If an undersized'slug is used it will pass through between the'calibrating parts 26 and 27 without being stopped and will pass into the coin box without causing the machine to deliver. If several coins are placed in at the same time and are all of the right size the customer will get the. I'Mfillled amount of material by turning the andpiece 19 the required number of times. It will be noted that there are two coin returning mechanisms acting to return coins through the same passageway. In some cases they act singly and in other cases this member is released and its lower end jointly, one of the coin returning mechanisms comprising the weighted lever 32, the other comprising the coin returning lever 39 with its end 44. When a coin or device which is too light is inserted in slot 28, when the coin lever 39 is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the coin strikes the weighted lever 32 and not being heavy enough to move it is deflected by this lever through opening 30' and returned. In such instances, this lever acts singly or alone. When the coin returning lever 39 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6, it and the Weighted lever 32 act jointly to return the coin. It will further be seen that the coin returning mechanism acts to insure the return of the coin of the customer when the machine is in a condition where the material cannot be delivered, thus,

makin it impossible to take the coin without de iverirlg the goods. If, for example, the screw 18 which holds the plates 16 and 17 together should be loosened or the mechanism become'loose in the box this will cause the coin returning lever 39 to act to return the coin.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying the invention, but it is of course evident. that the parts may be varied in many particulars Without departing from the spirit of the invention as embodied in the claims hereto appended, and I therefore do not limit myself to the particular construction shown. v

, I claim:

1. A vending machine comprising a casing adapted to contain material to be vended, a coin actuated discharge mechanism for discharging the material therefrom, and two coin returning devices adapted to act on the same coin for returning the coin to the customer. f

2. A vending machine comprising a casing adapted to contain material'to be vended, a coin actuated discharge mechanism for discharging the material therefrom, and two coin returning devices adapted .to act on I the same coin for returning the coin to the customer, said coin returning devices acting conjointly under normal conditions and individually under other conditions.

3. A vending machine comprising a casing adapted to contain material to be vended, a discharge device therefor, a coin actuated mechanism for actuating said discharge device comprlsing a com arm upon which a coin is received and an engaging part for engaging the material discharging device norma ly disconnected, said engaging devlce having a movable part movably connected therewith which is engaged by the coin and.

- moved thereby into operative relation with said engaging device. 4. A vending machinecompnsing a casingadapted to contain material to be vended,

when all the material has been discharged from the case.

5. A vending machine comprising a casing adapted to contain material to be vended, a material discharging device, a movable engaging part adapted to actuate said material discharging device, a coin arm disconnected therefrom, said coin arm provided with a calibrating device which holds coins of the proper size, means for moving said coin arm to cause the coin to engage said engaging part to move it to actuate the material discharging device..

6. A vending machine comprising a casing adapted to contain material to be vended, a material discharging device, a movable engaging part adapted to actuate said material discharging device, a coin arm disconnected therefrom, said coin arm provided with acalibrating device which holds coins of the proper size, means for moving said coin arm to cause the coin to engage said engaging part to move it to actuate the material discharging device, said calibrating device arranged so that when pressure is applied to the coin arm, the coin is'forced therethrough against a solid portion of the coin arm and into a position to be discharged therefrom.

7. A vending machine comprising a cas ingadapted to contain material to be vended, a material discharging device, a movable engaging part adapted to actuate said material discharging device, a coin arm disconnected therefrom, said coin arm providedcoin arm and into a position to be discharged therefrom, and means for discharging said coin to a position within the case after the material has been delivered.

8. A vending machine comprising a case, a receptacle therein for containing the ma terial to be vended, a door for said case, saidreceptacle mounted in said case so that the outer end can be moved outwardly to fill it when said door is open, a movable art connected with said receptacle and rovided with an engaging tooth, a material ischarging device at the bottom of said receptacle, com actuated mechanism for moving said material discharging device and means for said coin actuating mechanism when all material is discharged. .c

moving said engaging tooth out to engage t e a receptacle therein for the material to be vended, a delivery tray rotatably mounted at the bottom of said receptacle, a tooth part connected'with said tray, a tooth segment adapted to engage said tooth part, a coin arm separate from said tooth-segment and adapted to receive the coin, said coin actin -an il the tooth segment, and a hand piece connected with said coin arm for moving it to cause the coin to engage said tooth segment.

311. A vending machine comprising a case, a rece tacle therein 'for the material to be vended a delivery tray rotatably mounted at the bottom of said receptacle, a tooth part connected with said tray, a tooth segment adapted to engage said tooth part. a'coin arm separate from said tooth segment and adapted to receive the coin, said coin acting as a connection between the coin arm and the tooth segment, and a hand piece connected with said coin arm for moving it to cause the coin to engage said tooth seg-' ment, two coin return devices, one rendered operative by the movement of said tooth segment and the other rendered operative by the movement of said coin arm;

12. A vending machine comprising a case,

a receptacle therein for the material to be vended, a discharge device associated with as a connection between the coin arm said receptacle, a coin actuated mechanism for actuating said discharge device, a mov-' able part associated with said receptacle for engagin said coin actuated mechanism when all of the material is discharged from said receptacle, and adouble acting spring connected with said movable 'part and adapted to press it in one direction and means for causing said spring to press the movablepart in the opposite direction.

13; A vending machine comprising acasing adapted to contain material to be I vended, a coin actuated discharge mechanism for discharging the material therefrom, a coin returning device for returning the coin to the customer, means for bringing said coin returning device into operative position each time the machine is operated, said coin returning device brought into operation when the coin actuated mechanism is moved from its initial position. p 14. A vending machine comprising a casing adapted to contain material to be vended, a coin actuated discharge mechanism for discharging the material therefrom, a coin returning device for returning a coin deposited in the case by the customer, said coin returning device being rendered operative 'to return the coin to the customer by the initial movement of the coin actuated mechanism. 15. A vending machine comprising a cas ing adapted to contain material .to be vended, a coin actuated discharge mechanism for discharging material therefrom, and a locking device for locking said mechanism when it has been moved to discharge the last articlein said casing, so as to prevent said mechanism from returning to its initial position. d

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and tgie of Illinois, this 12th 9 I LANDON D. SMITH.

day of April, 

